Initial Hearing scheduled, but when will Duch trial actually start?

Initial Hearing scheduled, but when will Duch trial actually start?

After a two-day, closed door logistical meeting last week, word came from the court Monday that the Initial Hearing for "Comrade Duch" will be held Feb. 17. This is the first public stage of the trial process.

The Initial Hearing will "address preliminary objections by the parties, consider lists of witnesses submitted by them and consider new Civil Party applications," according to the court.

After this hearing, court officials say, the substantive portion of Duch's trial should begin in earnest in March. However, issues could be raised at the Initial Hearing that would delay these proceedings further.

As court monitor Michelle Staggs Kelsall told the Post: "as with every initial hearing, there may be judicial challenges by the prosecution or defence that may delay actual testimonies ... in that sense the trial proper may be delayed."

Duch's lawyers have repeatedly said that their client (who has cooperated with the court) wishes to be tried as soon as possible. But an appeal by Co-Prosecutors this fall already pushed back the trial's anticipated October start date by a number of months. And civil parties may have their own issues to raise at the Initial Hearing.

More information about a potential trial schedule should be available later in the week. Whether the ongoing debate over corruption allegations at the court could affect Duch's trial is unclear. I will try to examine this in the coming weeks.

Username *

Password *

RECOMMENDED STORIES

Social media celebrity and card-carrying CPP member Thy Sovantha yesterday said she will file a lawsuit against wildlife NGO head Suwanna Gauntlett alleging discrimination after the latter allegedly denied her access to an ecotourism program the group is launching today in Koh Kong province.
The

A group of 10 foreign tourists appeared in court today after being arrested for producing “pornographic” photos in Siem Reap town on Thursday, while dozens more were detained temporarily and let go after being lectured on their behaviour, according to authorities.
A report posted to the

Thai Phany, the nephew-in-law of Prime Minister Hun Sen who is accused of running two large cockfighting rings, has been removed as a general in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
Phany, formerly a one-star brigadier general, was removed by royal decree on December 19, according to

The government has signed off on a proposal to build a new airport to serve Phnom Penh and has earmarked land in Kandal province for the $1.5 billion project.
A new international airport to replace the existing Phnom Penh International Airport will be constructed on partially